Can-feeding mechanism



May 29, 1923.

Jv A. LEE

CAN FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25 1922 N W JO7ZIZAL INVENTOR.

Patented ay 29, 1923..

JOHN A. LEE, OF COOPERSVILLE, MICHIGAN.

CAN-FEEDIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed October 25, 1922. Serial No. 596,854.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN A. LEE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Coopersville, in the county of Ottawa and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and iseful Improvements in Can-Feeding Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to can feeding mechanisms, and its object is to provide feeding mechanism for a line of cans designed to receive commodities, with the arrangement of feed such as to relieve the said cans from undue pressure due to contact thereof with each other.

The feed of a line of cans by gravity is controlled by automatic mechanism responsive to said feed with the progress of the cans interrupted from time to time to relieve such feeding cans from the weight of the said cans.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a series of runways down which the cans gravitate to an equal number of outlets, the series of cans starting from a common point from which the continuity of the feed is periodically interrupted, so that the cans in their progress from the common feed to the distributing points of the series are divided into a more or less tortuous path, thus interrupting the feed in its continuity so that in no instance do the cans continue in a direct line for more than a minimum number of cans at which point the direct line of feed is interrupted.

By such an arrangement, the gravitational effect of the cans on each other in their travel from the intake end to the outlet end, are prevented from accumulating effects.

The invention comprises a multi-branch chute having the direction of travel of the cans broken up into minute numbers, preferably two cans in one group and then into greater numbers as they approach the discharge end of the device, so that the groups of greater number will not bring obtrusive pressure upon such cans.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawlngs, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a multiple chute constituting a plurality of ducts for the cans,

Fig. 2 is a terminal one of the ducts shown on a larger scale,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the ducts wlth some parts shown in cross section,

Fig. 4 is a cross section on a larger scale than the preceding figures showing the port1on of the duct and a single can therein,

Flg. 5 is a cross section of the duct illustrating certain features thereof,

Fig. 6 is another cross section of the duct showin certain other features thereof,

Fig. is adetail plan, and,

Fig. 8 is a modification of the duct.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a conveyor or switch structure 1, adapted to convey tin cans 2 from one end of the conveyor to the other end thereof with ofiset branches 3, 4, and 5, but which branches may be of greater or less number than those indicated in the drawings.

At the intake or upper end of the chute 1, there is located a belt or cable feed system 6 indicated in dotted lines and delivering into the conveyor 1, while the opposite walls of the chute are connected by straps 7 at intervals and these straps are in turn connected by bars 8 where needed, the bars 8 and straps 7 being joined where necessary by bolts 9 and also joined by other bolts 10 to the opposite walls of the conveyor.

The walls of the conveyor 1 are in angular and curved relation one to the other to permit the various turns of the conveyor accommodating the travel of the cans without crowding or binding and so that the cans will roll along the chute in edge to edge contact with the ends of the cans travelling between the bars 8 and free from engagement with the straps 7.

The arrangement is such that the uppermost can 2, which for convenience is designated 2 is received from the conveyor belt 6 into the uppermost end of the chute 1 and thence travels in order, downwardly, by gravity, through the chute 1 into contact with the second can 2 engaging against the adjacent side or face 1 of the chute, which is angularly related to the direct line of travel from the entrance of the chute to a lower point thereof. The can 2contacts with the third can 2, resting thereon and the can 2 is forced by gravity and guided by the chute toward one side thereof into engagement with a fourth can 2, being forced out of the direct line through the chute into a return path engaging a fifth can 2. This causes the fifth can to be diverted in its travel which is 'forced'into contact wlth a succeeding can 2 and an intermediate can 2 diverted from the tortuous path of the preceding cans into a guide channel 3 toward the discharge end of said channel.

The duct 1 continues beyond the can 2 to enclose and guide other cans 2 1n succession and entering the successive more or less lateral chutes 4 and 5.

In each chute extension 3, 4 and 5, there is arranged a shelf 11 arranged to support a series of cans 12 including the rearmost or lowermost one of the series of cans.

Beneath each shelf 11 is a depressed bottom portion 13 of the chute sections 3, 4 and and below the depressed portion 13 1s a lever 14 pivoted at one end at 15 and at the other end having a connection 16 with a cut out arm 17 carried by the under wall of the chute extensions 3, 4 and 5, respectively, and movable by the lever 14 into 1mpeding relation to the respective can 2 as the shelf 11 is depressed by the accumulation of cans 12 thereon, the shelf 14 havin a counterweight 18 fast to the lever 14.

Fach shelf 11 is provided with a lever 14 and a cut out arm 17 as the case may be. In order to strengthen the structure, these ends of the bars 8 at the rear end of the extensions ;,3, 4 and 5 are connected by a brace 19, bolted or otherwise secured to the extensions.

The cut out arm 17 is best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, where the arm 17 is indicated as of U-shape with the ends of the legs supported by a pivot bar 20 having a central extension 21 connected by a pivot pin 22 to the lever 14, there being .a cut out arm 17 for each lever 14.

The lever 14 is shown in Fig. 7 as formed of two members between which the counterweight 18 is secured. I

In the showing of Fig. 8, the chute 1 is replaced by atwo membjer chute 23.

What is claimed is 1. The method of feeding cylindrical metal cans through a guide chute, consisting in permitting the cans to roll about their lon- 'tudinal axes in a direct line of travel rough the chute on opposite'sides of the center line of the chute, in order. to direct the cans in units of short lengths, and providing divertingchute lengths for guiding the cans in longer groups to the discharge ends thereof.

2. The method of feeding cylindrical metal cans through a guide chute, consisting in releasing the cans to the action of gravity, diverting the course of travel of the cans through the chute to opposite sides of the center line thereof whereby to direct unit groups of short lengths, and provide other diverting chute lengths to include longer" groups of cans for guiding the can groups to the discharge end of the chute, and arresting the progress of the cans through the diverting chute sections, until the cans already lodged therein have discharged.

3. The method of feeding metal cans through a tortuous guide chute, consisting in directing the cans by gravity throughout the chute from side to side thereof in small groups, and directing major groups of cans all in the same direction to the exit end of said chute.

4. The method of feeding metal cans through a tortuous guide chute'iconsisting in directing the cans by gravity throughout the chute from side to slde thereof in small groups, and directing major groups of cans all in the same direction to the exit end thereof, and arresting the progress of the major group of cans periodically.

5. The method of feeding cylindricalmetal cans through a chute, which consists in causing each of the cansto roll about on a longitudinal axis through the chute with the latter inclined to the horizontal, whereby the cans will gravitate from the high enerance end to the low discharge end of the chute, with the line of travel of the cans through the chute diverted from side to side thereof with the cans moving by gravity downwardly from the entrance end of the chute to the discharge end thereof.

6. A means for feeding groups of metal cans, which consist in providing a chute for the cans through which they may roll by avity and move from side to side of a iverse path through the chute, said chute having means in its continuity for arresting ma or groups of cans in branch chutes leading from the main chute, and means for periodically releasing the arrested groups of cans.

7. A can feeding machine including an inclined can chute having its continuity di-. verted to opposite sides of its longitudinal center line in lengths effecting the cans in minimum numbers, branch chutes effecting a major number of cans at a time, and means responsive to the major number of cans for temporarily arresting said major number of cans.

8. A can feeding machine including a can chute having its continuity diverted to responsive means comprising a lever in the opposite sides of its longitudinal center line cans located in the chute, and a cut-out arm in lengths effecting the cans in minimum carried by the lever and actuated by the 10 numbers, branch chutes effecting a major cans in the chute.

5 number of cans at a time, means responsive In testimony whereof, I affix my signature to the major number of cans for temporarily hereto. arresting said major number of cans, said JOHN A. LEE. 

